Canoe transporting rack

ABSTRACT

A supporting frame by means of which a canoe or like boat can be transported on the back of a pack animal. The frame includes a generally rectangular main frame having integral support brackets at each of its corner adapted to receive the gunwales of differently sized canoes. Leg structures depend from the main frame and the lower end portion of each structure is adapted to be received within a saddle bag or the like on the pack animal. Each of the leg structures is angularly related to the main frame so that the main frame is inclined with respect to the back of the pack animal when the lower portions of the leg structures are received within the saddle bags so that the forward end of the canoe can extend over the head of the pack animal.

0 United States Patent [72] Inventors Charles M. Stevens v FOREIGN PATENTS 32g; Camelllfl DmeFremonbCalif- 833,749 7/1938 France 224/42.1(E)

Loren N. Stevens, 21265 Garden Ave., Hayward, Calif. 94541 [211 App]. No. 845,125 [22] Filed July 22, 1969 [45] Patented Mar. 16, 1971 [54] CANOE TRANSPORTING RACK (D), 42.] (E), 42.1 (F), 42.1 (G), 42.11, 42.07, 42.45, 29; 214/450; 54/1, 37

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,375,960 4/1968 Stevens et al.

Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner.lohn Mannix Attorney-Joseph B. Gardner of each structure is adapted to be received within a saddle bag or the like on the pack animal. Each of the leg structures is angularly related to the main frame so that the main frame is inclined with respect to the back of the pack animal when the lower portions of the leg structures are received within the saddle bags so that the forward end of the canoe can extend over the head of the pack animal.

CANGE TRAN SPORTING RACK DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to supporting frames or racks and, more particularly, to a rack adapted to support a canoe or like boat during transport thereof on a pack animal.

As explained in our issued US. Pat. No. 3,375,960, in many instances, campers, fishermen, and other outdoor enthusiasts transport a canoe through areas in which motor vehicles are either prohibited by law or precluded by the nature of the terrain. Accordingly, such persons have a choice of either carrying the canoe themselves or using a pack mule or similar animal for such purpose. I-Ieretofore, there has been no practical method of packing a canoe on an animal, particularly since the length, width and weight of various canoes may differ considerably.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a canoe supporting frame or rack which may be used to support a canoe for transport thereof by mule or other pack animal.

Another object of the invention is that of providing frame or rack apparatus of the character described which is simple in construction, light in weight, and may be easily and readily mounted on or removed from a pack animal.

A further object of this invention is in the provision of apparatus of the type described which accommodate canoes of different sizes while still maintaining the same in a desired balanced and stable condition over the pack animal, all without adjustment.

Still a further object is to provide improved frame or rack apparatus of the character set forth which has no moving parts, has a truss-structure composition, and is therefore quite strong, and is very inexpensive.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of apparatus embodying the invention mounted on a pack animal and supporting a canoe for transport;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one form of the rack apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a broken sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1; an

FIG. 4 is a side view in elevation of a modified apparatus.

Support frame or rack apparatus embodying the present invention is intended for use with pack animals for the purpose of enabling the same to carry and thereby transport a canoe or like boat. A pack animal, specifically a mule, is shown in FIG. I and is denoted with the numeral 10. The animal has a pair of generally rectangular saddle bags 11 respectively mounted on the opposite sides thereof, and conventional means may be employed to secure the saddle bags in position upon the animal. In this respect, a pack saddle 12 may be placed upon a blanket I4 and secured in place by check straps 15, back straps 16,- and a plurality of cinches 17. As will be explained hereinafter, the saddle bags II are open and components of the support frame or rack fit thereinto, as will be described in detail hereinafter.

The support frame or rack apparatus embodying the present invention is shown most clearly in FIG. 2 and is denoted in its entirety with the numeral 18. The apparatus 13 includes a main frame 19 comprising a pair of transversely spaced and longitudinally extending side rails or components 20 and 21 that are parallel and are interconnected at the ends thereof by longitudinally spaced and tranversely extending end members 22 and 23. The end members 22 and 23 are also parallel so that the main frame 19 has a generally rectangular configuration and is substantially planar in form. Adjacent each corner the main frame I9 is equipped with a support bracket that extends upwardly from the plane of the main frame and outwardly in a transverse direction at an angle, in the particular form shown, of the order of 45.

In the particular apparatus being considered the support brackets are formed integrally with the end members 22 and 24 and form extensions thereof. Accordingly, it will be evident that there are four such support brackets 25 and that they are static components fixedly related to the main frame 19 since the end components 22 and 24 thereof are welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the longitudinally extending components 20 and 21. As shown in FIG. 1 a canoe or similar boat 26 is adapted to be supported upon the main frame I9 and in this respect the gunwales 27 of such canoe (see FIG. 3) may engage the support brackets 25 and be guided thereby into a stable balanced position with respect to the main frame.

The support frame or rack 18 is also comprised of a secondary frame 28 that includes generally parallel leg structures 29 and 30 that depend centrally from the main frame 19 along each side thereof and are adapted to be received within the saddle bags 11 as is shown in FIG. 1. Each leg structure is generally U-shaped and is formed integrally so as to provide a pair of spaced-apart legs 31 and 32 joined by a base member 34, in the case of the leg structure 29, and legs 35 and 36 joined by a base member 37 in the case of the leg structure ,30. The spaced legs of each structure 29 and 30 are bent out wardly so as to diverge longitudinally at the upper end portions thereof as indicated at 38 and 39 (the structure 29) and 40 and 41 (the structure 30). Such diverging upper end portions define struts that are welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the main frame 19 adjacent the end portions thereof.

The secondary frame 28 also includes an inverted generally U-shaped compression structure 42 having spaced legs 44 and 45 integrally interconnected by a base number 46. The compression structure 42 is secured to each leg structure at the respective junctures of the leg 44 with the leg 32 and outwardly turned end 39 thereof and at the juncture of the leg 45 with the leg 36 and outwardly turned end portion 41 thereof.

The compression member is also connected to the main frame 19 at a single location along each side thereof and more particularly, intermediate the ends of the longitudinally extending components 20 and 21 at about their midpoints. In more particular reference, such joinder of the compression structure 42 occurs at the mergence of the base leg 46 of the compression structure with the respective legs 44 and 45 thereof as shown most clearly in FIG. 2.

The secondary frame 28 further includes a pair of struts or brace members 47 and 48 respectively associated with the leg structures 29 and 30. The brace, 47 extends between the leg 44 of the compression structure 42 and the mergence of the leg 31 and outwardly turned end portion 38 thereof comprising apart of the leg structure 29. In an analogous manner the brace 28 interconnects the leg 45 rear the compression structure 42 and the leg structure 30 at the mergence of the leg 35 and outwardly turned end portion 40 thereof. It will be observed in both FIGS. 1 and 2 that the compression structure 42 is inclined forwardly and upwardly toward the transverse end member 22, and the asymmetry of theend portions 38 and 39 (and 40 and 41) may also be observed in these two figures. Such asymmetry concerns the relative lengths of the outwardly turned end portions of the front and rear legs of each leg structure, and in this reference the rear end portions are substantially shorter than the forward end portions. As a result, the main frame 19 has an angular inclination relative to the bases 34 and 37 of the leg structures 29 and 30 such that the main frame inclines downwardly and rearwardly which is advantageous in that it enables the canoe 26 to project over the head of the pack animal 10 without interference therewith.

The modified apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4 is quite similar to the frame or rack apparatus 18 shown in FIG. 2 and departs therefrom only as respects the interconnection of the compression structure with the main frame and leg structures. In view of the general correspondence of the two apparatuses, the same numerals are employed in FIG. 4 to designate the respectively corresponding components shown in FIG. 2 except that the primed form of the numerals are used for purposes of differentiation. It may be noted that the main frame 19' is the same as the main frame 19 heretofor described and the same is true of each of the leg structures, such as the leg structure 2? shown in FIG. 4. In view of this identity, no further description of these components will be set forth. As respects the compression structure 42 and the braces (the brace 47' being the only one shown) associated therewith, the leg 44' (and its companion, not shown) of the compression structure is shorter than the leg 44 of the compression structure 42 to enable its interposition between the forwardly extending end portions of the leg 31 and main frame 19 thereabove. Thus, the compression structure 42 inclines upwardly and rearwardly or opposite that of the compression structure 42. Correspondingly the brace 47' is longer than its counterpart 47 and it extends between the compression structure 42' and the mergence of the rear leg 32 and its outwardly turned end portion 39' of the leg structure 29. In all other respects, the apparatus 18' is the same as the apparatus 18 herefor described.

Either form of the apparatus is used in the same manner and in this respect the depending leg structures thereof are inserted into the respective saddle bags 11 disposed along the opposite sides of the pack animal 10. A canoe 26 may then be seated upon the main frame of the apparatus and secured thereto by a suitable strap or line 49 that encircles the canoe and may be fixed to one of the line cinched straps 17 so as to embrace the pack animal rather than be lashed just to the frame or rack apparatus. In mounting the canoe 26 upon the apparatus the canoe is inverted and the gunwales 27 thereof are placed along the support brackets which guide the canoe into an appropriate position with respect to the main frame 19. As indicated hereinbefore the brackets 25 have an angular orientation of about 45 and in a typical apparatus a length of about 3 inches. The exact position of each gunwale with respect to the bracket 25 will depend upon the size of the canoe and particularly the width thereof at the location of the engagement of the gunwales with the brackets 25. Thus in the case of a canoe having a greater width than that indicated by the placement of the gunwale 27 in FIG. 3 the gunwale would simply be displaced outwardly and upwardly along the contiguous surface of the bracket 25.

Each apparatus is very lightweight and may be formed of various materials, a specific example of which is hollow tubular aluminum. At each joint the various components are advantageously welded to each other to afford a strong, rigid interconnection. For purposes of indicating a general order of size, in one particular embodiment of the apparatus the height of the transverse member 22 measured from the plane of the bases 34 and 37 of the leg structures is about 44 inches and the corresponding dimension for the transverse member 24 is about 29 inches. In such embodiment the length of the main frame 19 is about 56 inches, the width thereof is about 28 inches, the width of each leg structure between the legs 31 and 32 (or 35 and 36) is about 21 inches and the height of the legs 31, 32, 35 and 36 is about 21 inches.

The compression structure 42 and braces 47 and 48 associated therewith have a somewhat Y-shaped configuration defining triangular forms providing significant strength in compression. Thus the compression structure together with the struts 38, 39, 40 and 41 provide a truss composition affording an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. Such truss composition requires that the secondary frame 28 be secured to the main frame 19 at only three longitudinally spaced locations along each side of the main frame with one such connection being at about the approximate center of the main frame and constituting a union of the compression structure 42 therewith. Thus, an exceptionally strong but lightweight frame or rack is provided which is structurally simple, has no moving parts yet accommodates canoes of different sizes, and is also inexpensive.

While in the foregoing specification embodiments of the invention have been set forth in considerable detail for purposes for making a complete disclosure thereof, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.

We claim:

1. A rack for supporting a canoe or the like upon a pack animal, comprising: a main frame having at each corner thereof an upwardly extending support bracket inclined outwardly in a transverse direction and adapted to receive the gunwale of a canoe thereon; each of said support brackets being a static components fixedly'related to said main frame and effective to guide differently sized canoes into support position thereon; and a secondary frame including generally parallel leg structures depending from said main frame along each side thereof for respective receipt within saddle bags or the like carried by such pack animal on each side thereof; each leg structure having a pair of longitudinally diverging upper end portions defining struts respectively secured to said main frame adjacent the ends thereof; and said secondary frame also including compression structure secured to each leg structure and to said main frame at a single location intermediate its ends along each side thereof, and said secondary frame further including a pair of brace members respectively extending between said leg and compression structures and being secured to each.

The rack of claim 1 in which the diverging upper end portions of each leg structure are of different length with the forwardly extending end portion being longer, said main frame being held by said diverging end portions in an upwardly and forwardly inclined position relative to said leg structures and to any such pack animal upon which said rack is carried.

3. The rack of claim 1 in which said compression structure is an inverted generally U-shaped component having an angular orientation relative to said leg structures and to said main frame.

4. The rack of claim 2 in which the diverging upper end portions of each leg structure are of different length with the forwardly extending end portion being longer, said main frame being held by said diverging end portions in an upwardly and forwardly inclined position relative to said leg structures and to any such pack animal upon which said rack is carried.

5. The rack of claim 4 in which all of the components and parts thereof are of hollow tubular construction so as to be relatively lightweight, and in which each of said support brackets is formed integrally with a component of said main frame.

6. The rack of claim 5 in which said U-shaped compression structure inclines forwardly and upwardly relative to said leg structures and main frame from a location adjacent the rearward diverging upper end portions of said leg structures, and in which each of said brace members has an upwardly and rearwardly directed orientation relative to the respectively associated leg structures and to said compression structure.

7. The rack of claim 5 in which said U-shaped compression structure inclines rearwardly and upwardly relative to said leg structures and main frame from a location adjacent the forward diverging upper end portions of said leg structures, and in which each of said brace members has an upwardly and forwardly directed orientation relative to the respectively associated leg structures and to said compression structure. 

1. A rack for supporting a canoe or the like upon a pack animal, comprising: a main frame having at each corner thereof an upwardly extending support bracket inclined outwardly in a transverse direction and adapted to receive the gunwale of a canoe thereon; each of said support brackets being a static components fixedly related to said main frame and effective to guide differently sized canoes into support position thereon; and a secondary frame including generally parallel leg structures depending from said main frame along each side thereof for respective receipt within saddle bags or the like carried by such pack animal on each side thereof; each leg structure having a pair of longitudinally diverging upper end portions defining struts respectively secured to said main frame adjacent the ends thereof; and said secondary frame also including compression structure secured to each leg structure and to said main frame at a single location intermediate its ends along each side thereof, and said secondary frame further including a pair of brace members respectively extending between said leg and compression structures and being secured to each. The rack of claim 1 in which the diverging upper end portions of each leg structure are of different length with the forwardly extending end portion being longer, said main frame being held by said diverging end portions in an upwardly and forwardly inclined position relative to said leg structures and to any such pack animal upon which said rack is carried.
 3. The rack of claim 1 in which said compression structure is an inverted generally U-shaped component having an angular orientation relative to said leg structures and to said main frame.
 4. The rack of claim 2 in which the diverging upper end portions of each leg structure are of different length with the foRwardly extending end portion being longer, said main frame being held by said diverging end portions in an upwardly and forwardly inclined position relative to said leg structures and to any such pack animal upon which said rack is carried.
 5. The rack of claim 4 in which all of the components and parts thereof are of hollow tubular construction so as to be relatively lightweight, and in which each of said support brackets is formed integrally with a component of said main frame.
 6. The rack of claim 5 in which said U-shaped compression structure inclines forwardly and upwardly relative to said leg structures and main frame from a location adjacent the rearward diverging upper end portions of said leg structures, and in which each of said brace members has an upwardly and rearwardly directed orientation relative to the respectively associated leg structures and to said compression structure.
 7. The rack of claim 5 in which said U-shaped compression structure inclines rearwardly and upwardly relative to said leg structures and main frame from a location adjacent the forward diverging upper end portions of said leg structures, and in which each of said brace members has an upwardly and forwardly directed orientation relative to the respectively associated leg structures and to said compression structure. 